Quick answer: King of Prussia, Pennsylvania takes its name from the King of Prussia Inn, a tavern that opened in 1769 and honored Frederick the Great. The village that grew around the inn kept the name. Today the area is best known for the King of Prussia Mall and its closeness to Valley Forge National Historical Park. (If you are planning a wider trip, start with our travel planning guides and the Trip Cost Calculator.)
If you’ve driven the roads west of Philadelphia, you’ve probably wondered about that name. There’s no Prussian royalty buried here and no German kingdom nearby. The explanation is a roadside tavern, a Revolutionary War backdrop, and a 20th-century retail boom.
(In this guide: the name origin, Valley Forge, the mall, business and jobs, the rail project, historic sites, getting around, where to stay, and FAQs.)
| Quick facts | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Upper Merion Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania |
| Name comes from | The King of Prussia Inn (opened 1769) |
| The inn today | Moved in 2000 to 101 Bill Smith Blvd; now offices |
| Mall | Opened 1963; roughly 2.8 million sq ft; 450+ stores |
| Nearby history | Valley Forge encampment, winter 1777–78 |
| Rail status | SEPTA’s KOP Rail extension was halted in 2023 |
| (Distance from Center City Philadelphia) | (About 21 miles northwest; roughly 35 minutes by car in normal traffic) |
Where Did the Name “King of Prussia” Come From?
The name goes back to a tavern license issued in 1769 to William Rees Jr., who ran an inn out of his home. The inn was named for Frederick II of Prussia, better known as Frederick the Great, who ruled from 1740 to 1786. A small village of tradesmen grew around the inn in the early 1800s and borrowed its name. (For the wider story, the King of Prussia community entry on Wikipedia is a good starting point.)
Sources disagree on the details. One local history says the name honored Prussian soldiers serving in the Continental Army. Another says the area had no German settlers at all, so the name likely came from an admirer of Frederick. Some accounts credit an owner “from Prussia,” and the exact date the village formally adopted the name is also disputed. The one point every source agrees on is that the tribute went to Frederick the Great.
The name also nearly disappeared. During World War I, anti-German feeling led some residents to shoot up the old inn sign, and a newspaper reported a push to rename the town Port Kennedy. It never happened.
How Does Valley Forge Connect to King of Prussia?
Valley Forge is the park next door, and the two names are often mixed up. In the winter of 1777–78, George Washington’s Continental Army camped at Valley Forge, a short drive from today’s King of Prussia. Local history accounts say Washington also visited the King of Prussia Inn on Thanksgiving Day 1777, while the army was still at Whitemarsh.
Travel guides put Valley Forge National Historical Park about five minutes by car from King of Prussia. It’s open daily from early morning to dusk, so many visitors pair a morning among the huts and memorials with an afternoon at the mall. (The National Park Service lists the park as free to enter, with roughly 3,500 acres and about 35 miles of trails, so it also works well for walking, cycling, and picnics. Check the park’s page for current hours and for visitor center closures on major holidays. For more outdoor ideas, browse our hiking guides and things to do.)
From Farmland to Highway Hub
For most of the 19th century this was farming and mill country, close enough to Philadelphia to supply the city. Road access changed that. The area sits where US Route 202, the Pennsylvania Turnpike, and the Schuylkill Expressway (I-76) meet. The mall itself lies between the expressway and the turnpike, on the north side of Route 202. (If you are mapping a drive, our Distance Calculator and Trip Duration Calculator can help you estimate time on the road.)
How the King of Prussia Mall Took Off
The mall began in 1963 as a modest open-air center anchored by JCPenney, E.J. Korvette, and an Acme supermarket. A second complex, The Court, opened in 1981. In 2016 a connector joined the two buildings, so the property now works as one continuous mall.
Today it has 450+ stores across roughly 2.8 million square feet and draws an estimated 20+ million visitors a year. Anchors include Nordstrom, Macy’s, Neiman Marcus, and Bloomingdale’s, and Netflix House Philadelphia opened inside the complex in 2025. (Store lists, hours, and events change often, so confirm details on the official mall website before you go.)
Is it the biggest mall in America? It’s often called the largest by leasable retail space, but rankings vary by source and method, and some list it between second and fourth. “One of the largest in the country” is the safer claim.
Beyond Retail: Business in King of Prussia
King of Prussia is also a major employment center. UGI Corporation, a Fortune 500 energy holding company, is headquartered here, and so is the U.S. operational headquarters of the biotech company CSL Behring. The nonprofit King of Prussia District (formerly KOP-BID) works on the business area’s streets, trails, and public spaces.
What Happened to the King of Prussia Rail Project?
Many older articles describe the KOP Rail extension as under way. It isn’t. SEPTA planned a four-mile extension of the Norristown High Speed Line, but in March 2023 it halted all work. Cost estimates had passed $3 billion, and federal officials had raised doubts about funding. Plan on driving, ride-hailing, or buses for now, and check SEPTA for current service.
Historic Sites Worth Your Time
Valley Forge National Historical Park is the headline stop, with reconstructed soldiers’ huts, Washington’s headquarters, and the National Memorial Arch. It’s free to enter.
The King of Prussia Inn was moved in August 2000 to make way for the widening of Route 202. It now sits at 101 Bill Smith Blvd and serves as offices for the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce and the King of Prussia Historical Society. Treat it as a photo stop, not a museum, and contact the historical society before planning a visit inside.
The Justice Bell, a 1915 suffrage replica of the Liberty Bell, sits at Washington Memorial Chapel inside the Valley Forge park boundaries, not in King of Prussia proper. Suffragist Katharine Wentworth Ruschenberger commissioned it, and it was cast in Troy, New York, by the Meneely Bell Foundry. Its clapper was kept chained until women won the vote. (Learn more at the Justice Bell Foundation.)
Mill Grove, John James Audubon’s first American home, is also in the area.
Is the First Avenue Linear Park Worth a Visit?
It’s a walking and biking path, not a destination park. The First Avenue Linear Park is a roughly 1.25-mile multimodal trail in Moore Park, the former King of Prussia business park, running along First Avenue between North Gulph and Allendale Roads. Local officials secured about $5 million in grants for it and the related road-safety project, and it won a 2024 Montgomery Award. It makes a pleasant stroll if you’re nearby, and it suits families who just want a flat, safe path.
(Getting to and Around King of Prussia)
(Most visitors arrive by car. From Center City Philadelphia, the usual route is I-76 West toward US 202 or the Pennsylvania Turnpike, and the drive is roughly 35 minutes without heavy traffic. Rush hour and weekend holiday shopping can add a lot of time, so build in a buffer. Because rail service never arrived, buses and ride-hailing are the main alternatives. Check SEPTA for current bus routes. Use our Trip Cost Calculator to budget fuel, parking, and meals, and see our travel tools for more planning help.)
(Sample One-Day Plan)
(Morning: walk the huts, memorial arch, and Washington’s headquarters at Valley Forge. Lunch: pick a spot from our restaurant guides. Afternoon: shop or visit Netflix House at the mall. Evening: drive back to Philadelphia or stay nearby.)
Where to Stay or Base Yourself
King of Prussia itself has the most hotels, which suits shoppers and business travelers. Gulph Mills and the Valley Forge side are quieter and more residential. Chesterbrook is a short drive away but belongs to a different township and county (Tredyffrin, in Chester County). (Compare options in our hotel guides, and book early around major holidays and big events.)
FAQs
Is King of Prussia a city?
No. King of Prussia is an unincorporated community, officially a census-designated place, inside Upper Merion Township in Montgomery County. It has no mayor or city government of its own. Upper Merion Township handles local government, which is why addresses read “King of Prussia, PA” without a city charter.
Was King of Prussia named after a real king?
Yes, indirectly. The community took its name from the King of Prussia Inn, which honored Frederick II, known as Frederick the Great (1712–1786). Local sources disagree on who named the inn and exactly when, but the tribute to Frederick the Great is consistent across them.
How far is Valley Forge from King of Prussia?
Valley Forge National Historical Park is roughly a five-minute drive from King of Prussia, according to travel guides. The park is where Washington’s army wintered in 1777–78, and it opens daily from early morning until dusk. Confirm current hours with the National Park Service before you go.
Is the King of Prussia Mall the largest in the U.S.?
It depends on how you measure. It’s often described as the largest by leasable retail space, but rankings vary by source and method. With about 2.8 million square feet and 450+ stores, it’s among the biggest malls in the country either way.
Can I take a train to King of Prussia?
Not on a dedicated rail line. SEPTA’s proposed KOP Rail extension was halted in March 2023 after costs passed $3 billion and federal funding wasn’t recommended. Most visitors drive, use ride-hailing, or take buses, so check SEPTA for current routes.
Can I visit the King of Prussia Inn?
The inn was moved in 2000 during the widening of US 202. It now holds offices for the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce and the King of Prussia Historical Society. Interior access appears limited, so contact the historical society before planning a stop.
Is Valley Forge free to visit?
(The National Park Service lists entry to the park as free. Some guided tours, special programs, or nearby attractions may charge, so check the official page first.)
Is King of Prussia worth visiting?
(Yes, if you want a mix of shopping and Revolutionary War history in one trip. If you only want history, spend most of your time at Valley Forge. If you only want shopping, plan around traffic and parking.)
Final Thoughts
King of Prussia is more than a mall with a strange name. A tavern named for a European king gave the area its identity, Valley Forge gave it its place in American history, and a 1963 shopping center turned it into a regional destination. Visit for the shopping, but leave time for the history. (Planning more trips? Explore our Things To Do and Travel Planning sections for your next itinerary.)
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